GRAFTED IN

When Paul and Peter and other writers of the scripture referred to this, that or the other, they were often thinking about a scenario or tradition of their own time, which the readers of that time understood, but which 2,000 years later, we are often unaware. I would like to bring some of these meanings and understanding back, as it were, from the dead.

For those among us who voluntarily submit to the unction of the Holy Spirit are the children of God. The Spirit which you received does not lead you into spiritual slavery, so that you continue in fear. But rather, the Spirit you received has caused you to be adopted as sons. And by Him God has gifted you with the wherewithal to use the words, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself agrees with our spirit that we are the children of the living God. Yes, if we are children, then we are heirs, and we will share all that is His. If indeed we share in His sufferings, we cannot help but share in His preeminence! (Romans 8:15-17, McDonald Paraphrase, N.T.)

In this passage, Paul alludes to Roman adoption when he describes the new relationship of the believer to God.  He speaks of the Christian being adopted into the Family of God in the same way a human being is adopted into a natural family.

Roman adoption was always rendered more serious and more difficult by what the Romans called the patria potestas. The patria potestas represented the father’s power over his family. That power was absolute. It was the power of absolute authority and control.

In regard to his father, (and this is interesting) a Roman son never came of age.  No matter how old he was, he was still in the absolute possession, and under the absolute control, of his father; even if he father was 90, and he was 70.  Obviously, this made adoption into another family very difficult and a very serious step. 

In Roman adoption a person had to pass from the possession and control of one father to the possession and control of a different father. There were two steps in the process.  The first was known as the mancipatio, and it was carried out by a symbolic sale, in which copper and scales were symbolically used. Three times the symbolism of sale was carried out.  Twice the father symbolically sold his son, and twice he bought him back. The third time he did not buy him back, and thus the patria potestas, or ownership of the biological father was considered to be broken.   

After the sale, there followed a ceremony called vindicatio.  The adopting father went to one of the Roman magistrates, and presented a legal case for the transference of the person to be adopted into his own family. When all this was completed the adoption was complete.    

Roman history provides an outstanding case of how literally and completely this was held to be true. 

The Emperor Claudius adopted Nero, in order that Nero might succeed him on the throne.  They were not biologically related.  Claudius already had a daughter, Octavia.  To cement the alliance Nero wished to marry Octavia.  Now, Nero and Octavia were in no sense connected. They were in no sense blood relations, yet, in the eyes of the law, they had become brother and sister. And before they could marry the Roman Senate had to pass special legislation to enable Nero to marry a girl who was legally his own sister. Nothing shows better how complete adoption in Rome was. It literally took an act of congress.

This is what Paul is thinking.  He uses still another picture of Roman adoption. He says that God’s Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we really are children of God.  The adoption ceremony was carried out in the presence of seven witnesses.  Now, suppose the adopting father died, and then suppose there was some dispute about the right of the adopted son to inherit. One or more of the original seven witnesses stepped forward, and swore that the adoption was genuine and true.  Thus, the right of the adopted person was guaranteed and he received his inheritance. Notice Paul’s allusion to Roman adoption when he says, it is the Holy Spirit Himself who is the Witness to our adoption into the family of God. 

We see, then, that every step of a secular ceremony, that of Roman adoption, was meaningful in the mind of Paul when he used it as a metaphor for our adoption in Christ. 

Once we were in the absolute possession of sin, in absolute control of our own human nature and our father, the devil. But God, in His mercy, has brought us into absolute possession of Himself, and has become our Father. 

2^nd Corinthians 5:17 informs us that, the old life has no more right over us. We begin a new life; a life with God.  We become heirs of all the riches of God.  If that is so, we become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, God’s own Son.  That which Christ has inherited, we will also inherit.  If Christ had to suffer, we also inherit that suffering. If Christ was raised to life and glory, we also inherit life and glory. Whatever is good enough for our Brother is good enough for us.

Paul’s paints a figurative picture, and informs us that when a person becomes a Christian, he or she enters into the Family of God.  The adopted son does nothing to earn it. The adopted son does nothing to deserve it.

My God son-in-law is an Army chaplain. "Tom" and "Judy," my God-daughter are in the process of adopting a four month old baby. "Michael's" biological father and mother have several other children.

Michael has passed from the oversight of his original parents to the control of his new parents. He will soon be the legal son of Tom and Judy Williams, and the bonified brother of "Tammy" and "Jimmy Williams." Michael has become the love child of my God-daughter and son-in-law. 

Very much like my allusion to a human adoption, God, the Great Father, in His amazing love and mercy, has taken the lost, helpless, poverty stricken, debt-laden sinner, and adopted him into his own Family, so that the debts are cancelled, and that unearned love and glory has been inherited! The price of our adoption?  The blood of Christ!

There were four main consequences, as the result of a child being adopted into a new Roman family. Interestingly enough, these same four consequences apply to our adoption into the family of God.

(1)The adopted person lost all rights to his old family, and gained all the rights of a fully legitimate son in his new family.  In the most literal sense, and in the most legally binding way, the adopted son got a new father.

In the same way, we are no longer sons and daughters of our natural enemy, Satan. When Adam and Eve sinned, the entire human race, in essence, sinned along with them, and Satan took temporary control over our lives and destinies.

(2) Under Roman law an adopted son became heir to his new father’s estate, and would not inherit the estate of his biological father.  Even if other sons were born, who were real blood relations, it did not affect the adopted son’s rights. He was co-heir with them.  As a matter of fact, I have read that the adopted son actually received a double portion of the estate. He had been desired. He had been purchased. He had been loved.

In much the same way, we have been grafted into the family of God, and John 3:16 informs us that hell is no longer our inheritance, but rather, whosoever believes in the Son of God will inherit everlasting life in heaven.

(3) In Roman adoption the old life of the adopted son was completely wiped out.  All debts were cancelled. They were wiped out as though they had never existed.  The adopted son was regarded as a new person entering into a new life with which the past had no impact. 

In the same way, as the result of spiritual adoption the debt of sin has been wiped out. Psalms 103:12 informs us that, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our sins from us.”

They say that God can do anything. Well, I don’t know about that. For you see, one thing God is not capable of doing is remembering the sins we sinned before He adopted us as His sons and daughters.

(4) In the eyes of Roman law, the adopted son was literally and absolutely the son of a new father. 

In the same way, we have become sons and daughters of a new father. Revelation 2:17 informs us that God will write His name upon us, (much like a mother writes the name of a child on the label of his shirt).

We owe no allegiance to our former father, or to the words and ways of our former father. We have been grafted into the body of Christ, and we are the sons of the heavenly Father. We are joint heirs with Christ.

We may legally call Jesus Christ our Brother, and we are encouraged to, as the Book of Hebrews tells us, “Come boldly to the throne of grace.” We are encouraged to come to God, and to address Him in the exact same way His only begotten Son addresses Him when He says, “Abba

Father.” Abba means Daddy. Can you imagine referring to God, the Father as your spiritual Daddy? Well, my friends, you can, and He is!

You have been adopted. You have been bought with a price. Your sonship has been transferred. We are sons and daughters of the most high God. We have been grafted in. Jesus is our Brother and God is our Abba Father!

Amen.

by William McDonald, PhD. 

(Original resource notes from unknown writer)